The Darkness Within

Chapter 4

Percy POV

I stood corrected.

We stood before the Lotus Hotel and Casino. Pax strolled in as if this place was not enchanted.

She walked over to the concierge. "It's Pax. Room 10045."

The concierge's eyes widened. "A-an emer-rald guest? T-this is a-an absolute pleasure!"

He handed her a key and she motioned for me to follow her.

Pax walked to the arcade and took a sharp left towards the ski hill. Then she turned to a vending machine and walked right through. I quickly stopped gaping and followed her in.

"You may remember this place from your first quest." Pax began. "What you didn't know is that for a couple of drachmas you can pay for an Emerald Room. Time passes normally for all Emerald guests. These are the elevators for floor 100."

The elevator arrived and we got in. Pax pressed the number 45 and scanned her key. We were immediately shot up directly into her room.

"Make yourself comfortable. We have a lot to talk about." Pax began.

I quickly sat down on a sofa.

Pax steadied herself. "First things first. How are we going to live undetected? We could try to live like mortals, but your partial immortality will make things difficult."

"I lived in Tartarus for a thousand years." I said. "I don't think I can live a regular life."

We stood in silence for a little while.

"I don't want anyone to go through what I went through. All those monsters." I shuddered. "I want to catch them all."

Pax brightened. "A life of adventure and constant uncertainty? I like that!"

I threw a pillow at her.

"Seriously! I still have some friends at camp, I hope."

Pax scooched closer to me.

"Of course you do, Fish Breath: Nico, Thals, Will, and me! I'll help you track down monsters if you want."

I smiled. "I would have it no other way."

"Excellent! I know this may be a sore topic for you, but if we find any demigods, then can we bring them to camp?"

I hardened. "I don't want to go back there ever again. You can. I fight the monsters, you save the half-bloods. Sounds good to me."

Pax smiled. "Thanks, Perce, but how will we not be recognized?"

I thought this over for a moment. Then I remembered the powers Hades gave me. I hadn't used them in a while. I concentrated for a moment and the sofas' shadows materialized into cloaks.

Pax's eyes widened. "Oh gods that was so cool!"

I beamed. I knew I found a true friend.

We put on our cloaks.

"Call me Alpha." I stated.

"Then I'm Beta." Pax responded, grinning under the hood of her cloak.

A/N Sorry for the short chapter! This is supposed to be a filler for what is coming next. This chapter is dedicated to Vi. When you get an account, tell me so I can put it here.

-Sapphy